§Author· 1 book
Oyinkan Braithwaite
Black comedy and satirical crime fiction found a fresh international audience with the release of My Sister, the Serial Killer, a darkly humorous novel set in modern-day Lagos, Nigeria. Nigerian-British author Oyinkan Braithwaite gained widespread recognition for this debut work, which explores sisterly bonds, rivalry, and cover-ups through a crisp noir lens. The book has been translated into 30 languages and sold millions of copies worldwide.
Career & Background
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1988, Braithwaite spent her childhood in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom, growing up in places such as Southgate, London. She pursued higher education in Creative Writing and Law at Kingston University and studied at the University of Surrey and the Iowa Writers' Workshop. After earning her degree, she worked as an assistant editor at the Nigerian publishing house Kachifo before freelancing as a writer, editor, and graphic designer. In 2014, she was shortlisted as a top-ten spoken-word artist in the Eko Poetry Slam, and in 2016, she became a finalist for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize.
Following the breakout success of her 2018 debut novel, My Sister, the Serial Killer, Braithwaite expanded her creative work into multiple mediums. She has published short stories across various platforms and publications, including Audible and McSweeney's, and authored the novella The Baby is Mine in support of adult literacy. Beyond prose, she works as a screenwriter with two television projects in development as well as a feature film adaptation of her debut novel. Her novel Cursed Daughters is scheduled for publication in Autumn 2025. She lives with her husband and daughter.
Writing Style & Themes
Braithwaite's writing is characterized by brisk pacing, sharp dialogue, and a blend of dark comedy with traditional crime and gothic elements. Set primarily against the backdrop of contemporary Lagos, her narratives examine complex family dynamics, social expectations, gender roles, and the lengths individuals will go to protect family members. Her storytelling combines classic noir sensibilities with modern Nigerian settings, creating narrative tension through spare prose and satirical observations.
Major Works
- My Sister, the Serial Killer — Published in 2018, this debut novel follows a Lagos nurse who repeatedly helps her younger sister clean up after murder scenes. The novel won the 2019 LA Times Award for Best Crime Thriller, the 2019 Morning News Tournament of Books, the 2019 Amazon Publishing Reader's Award for Best Debut Novel, and the 2019 Anthony Award for Best First Novel. It was also shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2019 and longlisted for the Booker Prize 2019 and the 2020 Dublin Literary Award.
- The Baby is Mine — A novella written in support of adult literacy, exploring themes of family conflict and identity.
- Cursed Daughters — A novel set for publication in Autumn 2025 that incorporates gothic elements and centers on family history, grief, and reincarnation following a tragedy in Lagos.
§All Books
My Sister, the Serial Killer
Oyinkan Braithwaite, 2018
617 ratings